I really enjoy my sex life and am starting Effexor in a couple weeks. I read some sexual side effects from this drug and am concerned to exactly what people experience. I know everyone is different. By sharing experiences I will have a pretty good idea what to expect and maybe what to do to deal with it.
All my sexual life it takes me at a minimum a half hour and usually closer to an hour to cum. Sometimes I would stop as either my partner or me, sometimes both of us, were ready for a rest.
If this drug makes it harder for a male to cum I wonder if I will ever experience that while taking this drug. In reality, how long does a person really want to spend having sex. Especially the woman as I fear this will put a burden on her to want to satisfy me at the cost of her not enjoying it anymore.
I am moving to a different state to be with my woman and really do not want this drug to be an issue with our love life. I currently take Cymbalta 60 mg one time daily and Welbutrin SR 100 mg two times a day. My doctor told me to stop these two drugs when the Effexor arrives. I get it free from Pfizer thru their program for low income people.
Any comments from both men and women on the side effect with your sex life and any ideas what you did to overcome this will be greatly appreciated. I understand this is an awkward topic to discuss in a public forum. Anyone can post here without giving any personal information. And lets be honest. We all desire a healthy sexual life as it is a normal part of our makeup.
With regard to discontinuing Effexor, my psychiatrist (very experienced) knows a trick to discontinue without adverse withdrawal symptoms. He said he starts the patient on Prozac, then tapers off the Effexor. Voila - no withdrawal symptoms. I haven't experienced it but I do trust his decades of experience.
Votes: +0
SA
sara12345
8 April 2018
Excellent! You could post that information on other questions with people suffering greatly from trying to get off Effexor. Thanks for sharing.
WI
WildcatVet
21 March 2018
From another woman's POV, Effexor has greatly improved my sexual, emotional, and mental health by completely removing my Major Depression and anxiety disorders. Can't say enough good things about it!
Votes: +0
DF
Dford393
21 March 2018
I’m a female in early 60s who took Effexor in late 90’s when I was in my 40’s. I believe it greatly diminished my sexual drive and it never returned. This is just one anecdotal story and cannot be generalized. For me, I regret taking it and wish I had seen a psychiatrist and a professional counselor. I did not have major depression; rather, job related stress. It was prescribed by a gynecologist. My only advice is get a second opinion from a mental health professional.
Votes: +0
GM
G_money75
27 Nov 2017
Man don't go on effexor if you're concerned about your sex life. It WILL destroy it. It destroyed mine. E.d and anorgasmia. I'm sure it messed my hormones up too. Very very hard to get off of it if you ever want to. Almost impossible. Unless you have a very big life changing reason to get off it it can't be done. The pain and suffering of withdrawal will make your original reason for going on it in the first place feel like nothing. My reply is prob too late but be very wary.
Votes: +1
AM
amaraeuq
28 Nov 2017
I could not agree more on your comment " do not " take effexor. ! Its a drug from hell . ( my own experience and sadly a large % of peoples lives have been damaged or worse . ( for those that this drug works..truly congrads ). In regards to libido ..sexual functionality. Effexor ( and other antidepressants) simply destroy it. ( which leads to more frusttation/ depression. I am titrating ( reducing ) my effexor . I will differ on your point of coming off it( effexor ). It can be done !i know people who did it and ive read success stories. Has coming off of it been easy ? ! Easy ..hell no. !! Yes. I have changed alot my ways of living for the better ( not that i lived badly..just had to be more aware .
May i suggest a slooow reduction. Not what your doc says .what your ready to handle . Ex. Me . 325 mg to 140.mg. one year. So i still have a ways to go . But i have no choice. This drug has temporarily ..ruined me. I do have a question about sexual desire . Libido. ..ability to " .functioning " / will the deyremental sexual concerns go away after im off this devil drug. ( i did ask my doc. He said you ll be perfectly the same bc u are withdrawaing so slowly . ). Problem is ..he has lied to me . ( ex. He Thought effexor xl was a real drug. ! There is no xl. !! ( He just gave me scripts and not informing even a bit of warning about this drug ). So. I do not believe him ..at all. !!! So . Will sexually things return to normal.? There is too much conflicting answers. What is the " general consensus " . I d like to know .
LB
lbigtonyl
24 Feb 2018
What do you mean its almost impossible to get off? You just must be the type that has weak will power. (no offense). I was on Effexor for 5 solid years in prison and when I got out, I didn't have insurance so had to get off of it. It was (very) irritating coming off of it because I got those electrical-type shocks in my brain like you get with many anti-depressants but eventually it stopped after 2-3 weeks.
I recently got insurance and they put me back on it though. But now that I read about possible sexual side effects, ima get right back off of it. I barely have a sex drive as it is.
CC
Cctwb
21 May 2018
I support your answer 100%. I had to begin testosterone supplement also which until now did not link it! I’ve had high testosterone until about 8-9 months after beginning this crap! Now my body will probably not produce it as much if I get off this drug. Man, I want off This stuff now!
DU
Dubaday
3 Nov 2018
Is this for men?? Years ago Effexor enhanced my desire for sex .. I am a woman and have had no desire to do anything. One more thing I noticed years ago it never said must take with food. Now it does.. anyone agree disagree??
"Very common (10% or more): Abnormal ejaculation (up to 16%) Common (1% to 10%): Impotence, decreased libido, ANORGASMIA, erectile dysfunction"
Talk to your doctor. There are medications that may help "fix" the problem or a switch to a different antidepressant may be in order.
Votes: +0
BU
Butterflywings1
9 Nov 2017
I have been taking Effexor and Wellbutrin for about three weeks. The Wellbutrin didn’t work by itself so my dr added Effexor. I am very frustrated because I have increased sex drive but cannot have an orgasam! I thought it was just me until I was reading these comments. All my other symptoms are under control but now im dealing with this! I defiantly need to fix this and in a hurry.
Votes: +0
CC
Cctwb
21 May 2018
At least you’ve got one side working, sex drive. If I could have that I might be able to live with not having orgasm cause that has been taken away also. Good luck.
SA
sara12345
22 March 2013
I can tell you that Effexor dulled my sex drive, but Pristiq brought it back. Too bad it is expensive for those without insurance.
Votes: +2
RO
Rottweiler1
21 March 2013
Way to go SomecSmg. Sexual side effects need to be discussed, especially when it comes (no pun intended-sorry) to the drug Effexor. I believe it has a strong effect on our hormones, endorphines... I am not sure what. But from the people I have spoken to who have been on it, and from personal experience, Effexor will dampen your sex life. I am not sure that it lowers your "sex drive" but to put it nicely, it disables your ability to perform and lowers your level of satisfaction. Why don't more people know about Pristiq? It is a drug that is in the same class as Effexor. You can switch directly to it the next day. It has no side effects. My issue with Pristiq is that my insurance doesn't cover it, so it is exorbinately expensive. What a bummer. Has anyone ordered drugs from Canada??
Votes: +1
RO
Rottweiler1
21 March 2013
Also, I forgot to mention that Buspar is listed as a drug that can in some cases over-ride the sexual side effects of Effexor. I asked my Dr. and she prescribed it. So far it has helped a little. Only been on it for almost a week now. Look it up and ask your Drs. My goal is to switch to Pristiq though and get rid of all the sexual side effects instead of trying to treat them. For Gods sake, we are anxious and/or depressed! We deserve good sex!!!
DU
Dubaday
3 Nov 2018
I took pristiq prior to Effexor and they say less side effects. For 23 days I have never felt worse!! Horrible.. I do know one person male that has no sexual problems on pristiq..
SA
Sara7777
15 Nov 2019
I was on Effexor for only 25 days. I went off of it because it was making me feel crazy. My moods were all over the place and really disrupting my life. It also caused weight gain of 11lbs., in just those few days, if anything it's supposed to cause weight loss (rather than gain) I've been off of it for about 5 days and am still having the moods. I've also been having very hard to control sexual arousal. Just all of the time. It feels like being on the edge of orgasm from the time I wake up. It can be embarrassing. Has anyone ever had effects like these? It's not like me. I don't like this. Please help if you know anything about this!
I have taken Lexapro in the past but most of these drugs or alot of them cause sexual side effects, I just noticed Laurie has posted I am sure she has explained to you that a lot of these do, one of the ones that I hear that many people take without having as much of this type of side effect is the Wellbutrin, once you get the effexor if it does cause you a problem then just have a open talk with your prescribing doctor, as you said this is just a normal part of life and maybe he will be able to make some suggestions that will cause this side effect to not be a problem for you, and then there is always the possibility that the Effexor may not cause you a problem but if it does then I would be sure and have a talk with the doctor. I wish you the best of Luck!
Votes: +0
LA
LaurieShay
2 April 2011
Hey SomecSmg, I'm operating on a new mac system so if I make mistake excuse me. I am one who has been on Cymbalta for much time with much sexual discomfort. i am unable to orgasm. I have discussed this with my doctor and he recommended Wellbutrin to enhance the sexual dysfunction. I have tried his suggestion with out much luck, but I haven't given up. I'm still willing to try. I believe that I can still increase my dosage and receive relief. I might be wishing upon a star but am still trying. I wish I had another suggestion, but at the present I don't. You will need to give the Effexor some time to see how it works. Unfortunately the sexaul dysfunction is a side effect of most antidepressants.
I wish you the very best and keep in touch,
Laurie
Votes: +4
SO
SomecSmg
2 April 2011
Hi Laurie,
Thank you for your reply!
Cymbalta and Welbutrin have been in my system for a few years. My long-winded sexual performance has been with me ever since I became sexually active. That was when I was a teen and am 55 now. So I am used to it. I want to learn more about, if anything, people who use this drug are doing to correct the extended time it takes to cum. Right now it takes me quite a while. Not complaining and either is my woman. However, I hope this drug does not add to the time it takes to cum. Eventually I have to stop and have breakfast, do normal daily things, etc. So I do not want to spend all day each time we make love waiting for a climax at my end.
I am excited about the positive results others have posted here as what they experienced as change in their lives. I look forward to getting out of this bed and doing something with enthusiasm again. I just hope the sexual thing is either not that big of a deal with me or I can learn from others who found a way to deal with the extended time at making love and a loss of desire.
Steven
SA
sara12345
9 Nov 2011
Effexor has totally destroyed any sexual feelings in me, whatsoever. It's gotten worse as I've had to increase the dose. I'm in the process of changing to Savella which is supposed to have similar ingredients, but not so strong with the sexual side effects. We'll see.
